I know that there are several forum members that are from South Carolina. I'm hoping that you can answer some questions for me.

So we are going to be moving to Upstate South Carolina the end of June due to a family emergency and to take care of my elderly Mom. Max has been used to being able to swim here in Washington in the Sound and in local lakes. There aren't any posinous snakes here and no water snakes that I'm aware of. I grew up in South Carolina and remember how agressive the water moccasins are. I really hate snakes!! Is there any danger to letting your goldens swim in fresh water due to the snakes? Also, Di has been going to hydrotherapy sessions here, but I can't seem to find any that are close to the Greenville/Spartanburg area. Perhaps we will need to get a small swimming pool for them instead. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I have to admit, I have seen water moccasins in some of the water bodies that I take Flora swimming in... as of yet we haven't had any issues.

ETA: What fostermom said about too much activity - the snakes I've seen are very skittish. They disappear beneath the water at the tiniest vibration, so I agree that they probably don't like the loud activity of a dog swimming.

I live in NC and I haven't had (knock on wood) any issues with any water snakes. Up at the lake, when we first started going up there, the neighbors were shooting an occasional water moccasin, but that hasn't happened in 8 years or so. I think there's just plain too much activity for them to feel comfortable hanging around on our side of the lake.

__________________

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
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I live near Greenville/Spartanburg.
We don't have water mocassins here since it is too cold for them. At leat that is what I've been told and read and I have never seen one. We do have Copperheads that are pretty nasty, but we never had a problem swimming or while hiking. Water mocassins are prevalent down around the coast and they are truly nasty snakes.

I never used hydrotherapy with Copper, but there is a wonderful group of excellent vets in Greenville. Your vet does have to refer you at first, but they are great about follow up. They removed Copper's spleen and an unsuspected stomach tumor a couple of years ago and saved his life at least one other time. Upstate Veterinarian Specialist and I'll get their number for you.

I live in Pickens SC - the south(?) side of I-26 and am quite familiar with good hiking/horse back riding areas that are dog friendly. It depends on just where you end up, but there is also a wonderful lake that allows dogs (Devil's Fork State Park) and closer to Spartanburg Dupont State Park is wonderful too.

I'm sorry for why you have to move here, but I sure hope you like it. We moved here 10 years ago and I don't intend to ever move.

I live near Greenville/Spartanburg.
We don't have water mocassins here since it is too cold for them. At leat that is what I've been told and read and I have never seen one. We do have Copperheads that are pretty nasty, but we never had a problem swimming or while hiking. Water mocassins are prevalent down around the coast and they are truly nasty snakes.

I never used hydrotherapy with Copper, but there is a wonderful group of excellent vets in Greenville. Your vet does have to refer you at first, but they are great about follow up. They removed Copper's spleen and an unsuspected stomach tumor a couple of years ago and saved his life at least one other time. Upstate Veterinarian Specialist and I'll get their number for you.

I live in Pickens SC - the south(?) side of I-26 and am quite familiar with good hiking/horse back riding areas that are dog friendly. It depends on just where you end up, but there is also a wonderful lake that allows dogs (Devil's Fork State Park) and closer to Spartanburg Dupont State Park is wonderful too.

I'm sorry for why you have to move here, but I sure hope you like it. We moved here 10 years ago and I don't intend to ever move.

Thanks so much for the great info, I really appreciate your time!! The vet group sounds wonderful. Are they a group at a 24 hour hospital or just a group of specialist like cardio, neuro etc? We are moving to Greer. My Mom is still there by herself. I grew up there. We had water moccasins in the creek behind the house. So I assumed they were in all the fresh water streams. I'll have to look up the 2 state parks. Would be great to take Max and Di on weekends.

I didn't think there would be water moccasins in Greer. I'll check into it more. I live a little more in the foothills so maybe they just aren't up here or maybe I have been mislead. There is a watersnake that looks very much like a moccasin, but isn't poisonous.

You will be close to Upstate Vet Specialists. They are in the same building as the ER and if your dog is transferred, they just walk the paperwork over and he doesn't actually have to be moved. Dr. Toshich (sp?) was Copper's internal specialist and Dr. Ritter was Copper's Ortho vet and surgeon.